Wedbush analyst Nick Setyan raised his price target for Chipotle Mexican Grill to $450 from $350 and maintained a Neutral rating ahead of the June 27 management update, which he expects will focus on digital/delivery, menu innovation and marketing, daypart opportunities, remodels and menu price strategy. In a research note to investors, Setyan said that while he sees little risk to near-term expectations, he is also cautious regarding an inflection in fundamentals through 2020 ahead of expectations that could justify a higher valuation from current levels.

For 2024, management is anticipating the following: Full year comparable restaurant sales growth in the mid to high-single digit range; 285 to 315 new restaurant openings with over 80% having a Chipotlane. An estimated underlying effective full year tax rate between 25% and 27% before discrete items.

Reports Q1 revenue $2.7B, consensus $2.67B. Comparable restaurant sales increased 7.0%. "We had another outstanding quarter driven by our improvement in throughput and successful marketing initiatives, including Braised Beef Barbacoa and Chicken Al Pastor, which drove strong sales and transactions. The results we are seeing from our focus on developing exceptional people, preparing delicious food and fast throughput gives me confidence that we can achieve our long-term target of more than doubling our business in North America and expanding internationally," said Brian Niccol, Chairman and CEO, Chipotle.

Pre-earnings options volume in Chipotle is 1.5x normal with puts leading calls 9:7. Implied volatility suggests the market is anticipating a move near 5.3%, or $154.14, after results are released. Median move over the past eight quarters is 7.0%.

Notable companies reporting after the market close, with earnings consensus, include Meta Plataforms (META), consensus $4.32... IBM (IBM), consensus $1.60... ServiceNow (NOW), consensus $3.14... Lam Research (LRCX), consensus $7.30... Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), consensus $11.68... O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY), consensus $9.26... Ford Motor (F), consensus 42c... United Rentals (URI), consensus $8.32... Align Technology (ALGN), consensus $1.97... Molina Healthcare (MOH), consensus $5.59... Teradyne (TER), consensus 33c... Universa Health Services (UHS), consensus $3.16... Western Union (WU), consensus 41c.

Raymond James analyst Brian Vaccaro raised the firm's price target on Chipotle (CMG) to $3,300 from $3,200 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm maintains a selective stance towards its restaurant coverage universe as industry sales have underwhelmed in recent months, causing Raymond James to increasingly favor stocks it view as having "idiosyncratic factors trading at attractive valuations," such as Brinker (EAT), Shake Shack (SHAK), First Watch (FWRG) and Bloomin' Brands (BLMN), the analyst tells investors in a group earnings preview note.

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced the opening of its first location in Kuwait City in partnership with leading international franchise retail operator Alshaya Group. The restaurant has been operating with adjusted hours since the beginning of the month to account for holidays and training and will hold its official grand opening on April 23. Chipotle's location in Kuwait marks the first time the company has entered a new country in over 10 years. The new restaurant is located at The Avenues, Kuwait's largest shopping mall and a hub for international and local brands with over 1,100 stores and approximately one million visitors per week.